Len leads crop of seven ACC players selected in NBA Draft

Maryland center Alex Len was the first ACC player selected in Thursday’s NBA Draft. The 7-foot-1 Len, who played two seasons at Maryland, went fifth overall to the Phoenix Suns.

Len averaged 11.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game last season for the Terrapins.

Miami’s Shane Larkin was the next ACC player taken at No. 18 by the Atlanta Hawks. The sophomore point guard was ultimately traded to the Dallas Mavericks.

Duke’s Mason Plumlee was the first Triangle player selected at No. 22 by the Brooklyn Nets. The 7-footer played four seasons for the Blue Devils and improved his scoring average each season.

Brooklyn General Manager Billy King told The Associated Press Plumlee gives the Nets athletic ability up front and adds a dimension the team doesn’t have in its bigs.

North Carolina’s Reggie Bullock went three picks after Plumlee to the Los Angeles Clippers and was the final ACC player taken in the first round.

Tar Heel coach Roy Williams spoke to Bullock moments after he was drafted.

“He’s going to play for an outstanding coach in Doc Rivers, a friend of mine,” Williams was quoted as saying in a statement released Friday by UNC. “Doc’s going to do great things with the Clippers and I am just thrilled that Reggie is going to get a chance to be part of that success.”

Virginia Tech’s Erick Green was the first ACC player off the board in the second round, going 46th to Utah before the Jazz traded the ACC’s player of the year and NCAA’s leading scorer to the Denver Nuggets.

Duke senior Ryan Kelly went two picks after Green to the Lakers before N.C. State junior point guard Lorenzo Brown rounded out the ACC selections when the Minnesota Timberwolves took him at No. 52.

Wolfpack junior C.J. Leslie was not selected, but signed a free agent contract with the New York Knicks, according to multiple reports Friday.